Loading device



Oct. 11, 1949. A. R. CUNNINGHAM LOADING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, l946 06% 1949- A. R. CUNNINGHAM LOADING DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x /v// f .w I

IN VEN TOR.

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a g 5 Q m 4 Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE LOADING DEVICE Arthur Raymond Cunningham, Detroit, Mich Application November 4, 1946, Serial No. 707,658

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to loading equipment for vehicles and refers more particularly to improvements in loading apparatus of the type used to transfer material such as manure from a pile into the body of a vehicle.

While the loading equipment forming the sub- Ject matter of this invention may be advantageously used to handle or load practically any material capable of being stored in a pile, it finds particular utility when employed for transferring manure from a pile directly into the body of a manure spreader.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide loading apparatus composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being readily attached to conventional types of manure spreaders and also capable of expediently loading the body of the spreader from a pile of manure.

Another object of this invention is to provide loading apparatus having an element supported for rotation in opposite directions and having a fork operatively connected to the element by means responsive to initial rotation of the element in one direction to thrust the fork into a pile of material and responsive to continued rotation of the element in the same direction to swing the fork upwardly to a position above the body of the spreader where the material collected by the fork may be dumped into the body.

A further object of this invention is to provide loading apparatus of the above type wherein rotation of the element in the reverse direction swings the fork downwardly and, at the same time, shifts the fork in a direction to clear the pile of material to be loaded on the vehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide loading apparatus having guide means for the fork adapted to engage the top of the pile of material to be loaded for positioning the fork at the desired elevation relative to the pile and thereby determines to someextent the amount of material raised by the fork during any one cycle of operation. a

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of loading apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and applied to a vehicle, such for example, as a manure spreader;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; 4

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational ting device it.

view showing the loading apparatus in different positions relative to the vehicle;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a part of the loading apparatus;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively sectional views taken on the lines 66, 1--'| and 88 of Figure 2;

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively sectional views taken on the lines 99 and Ill-l0 of Figure 8; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Figure 3, only showing the parts in a different position.

In the several figures of the drawings, the numeral Ill indicates loading apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, and the numeral ll designates one type of vehicle in connection with which the loading apparatus may be used. For the purpose of illustration, the vehicle shown is in the form of a conventional manure spreader having a body l2 open at the top and having ground engaging wheels l3 rotatably mounted on an axle l4 suitably supported at the rear end of the vehicle. The loading apparatus may be readily attached to conventional types of manure Spreaders without appreciable alteration of the latter, and is adapted to be operated by the powertake-oif shaft of a standard tractor while the latter is hitched to the spreader.

In detail the loading apparatus comprises a pair of drums l5 respectively journalled 0n the axle l4 between theground engaging wheels and sides of the body adjacent the latter wheels. The drums are rotated in opposite directions by suitable power take-oif mechanism (not shown), forming a part of the standard equipment of orthodox tractors, through a power transmit- The device !6 comprises a cas ing l8 attachable to the front wall of the body and adapted to support a driven shaft I 9 with its axis extending transversely of the body. The shaft I9 is driven in opposite directions by a drive shaft 20 extending through the front Wall of the casing and having the front end portion fashioned for connection with the power take-off shaft of the tractor used to pull the vehicle. Abevelled gear is fixed to the rear end of the drive shaft 20 within the casing I8 and is adapted to alternatively mesh with a pair of bevelled gears 22 and 23. The bevelled gears 22 and 23 are respectively secured to a sleeve 24 at opposite sides of the drive gear 2| and the sleeve 24 is splined on the drive shaft I9 for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the drive shaft I9. As shown particularly in Figure 9 of the drawings, a pin 25 is secured to the drive shaft I9 and projects into an elongated slot 26 formed in the sleeve 24. The slot 26 is concealed by the hub 21 of the bevelled gear 22, and an annular groove 28 is formed in the hub 21 for receiving the furcations of a suitable shifting fork .29. Thcfurcations of the fork 29 are respectively secured to opposite ends of a sleeve 30, and the latter in turn is secured to a shaft 3|. The shaft 3| extends transversely through the casing I8 and is journalled in the opposite side walls thereof. A

suitable handle 32 is secured-to one end of the shaft exteriorly of the casing to enable swinging the shifting fork in opposite idirections about the axis of the shaft 3|. It will be noted that rocking movement of the shifting "fork 29 in opposite directions reciprocates the sleeve 24 s on the drive shaft 4-9 toalternativelymesh the bevelled gears 22 and 23 with the drive gear 2|. Thus the driven shaft l9 may be selectively rotated inopposite directions by merely manipulating the handle "32.

The opposite endsof the-shaft I9 project beyond the ends of the casing 58 and a pair of sproekets33 are respective-ly'secured to the projecting ends of the driven shaft. The sprockets 33 are respectivelyconnected to'the drums I by chains 54 and cables 35.

direction of rotation as the latter.

Upon referenceto Figures i-lato 3 inclusive of the drawings, :it will 'be noted that a pair of arms 36 are located at opposite sides :of each drum I5 and extend rearwardly from t-he latter.

The front ends of the arms are pivoted to the adjacent drum I5 by means of a pin :31 and-the rear iendspf the .arms at'opposite-sides of the vehicle'are connectedby a pick-upmember such,

for example, as a fork 3.8. The fork :BBcomprises a rearwardly opening channel-shapedibar 39 having the opposite endsrespectively-securedto the arms .35 and havingtines '48 secured thereto.

Located directly above the arms 36 at each side of the vehicle .isa second pair of; arms 4|.

Thefront endportionsof thegarms 41 at each side of the vehicle are pivoted to oppositesides of-the-adjacent drum 5 bya pin42, and-the free ends of the innermost armslM at each sideof the vehicle are bent inwardly to provide portions 43 adaptedto seat on the topof apileof material-indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings by the numeral 44. Thearms 35 and 4| at each side of the'vehicle, are connected by a link 45. The lower ends of the links are respectively pivoted to the arms 35 by pins 46, and the upper ends of the links are respectively pivoted to the arms 4| by'pins 4'1.

The pins 3'! and 42 are s aced radially outwardly from the axis ofrotation of the drums 15, .and are also spaced fromleaeh other circumferentially of the drums. The arrangemcntissuch that rotation ofthe drums in the. direction of the arrow A in Figures Zand ;3 of'the drawingsnot nly imp rt an upward wingin m vement. to the arms teland 4|, but also, imparts. awrearward shifting movement to the arms .3226 and aforward shiftin mov men to thearms 41-. On-the other h nd. rot onof th dr m in the opposite-directi n indicated .byth arrow B in Figures .2 and 3 52 is manipulated by the control 5|.

of the drawings not only imparts a downward swinging movement to the arms 36 and 4|, but in addition, shifts the arms 4| rearwardly, and the arms 36 forwardly.

With the above in view, reference is made to Figure 11 of the drawings wherein it will be noted that the rear end portions 43 on the arms 4| rest on the top of a pile of material 44 to be loaded into the body I2 of the vehicle. When the arms 4| are in the above position relative to the pile 44, the arms 36 are advanced to their forward- ..most positions, wherein the fork is located at the front side of the pile. Assuming now that the drums 15 are rotated in the direction of the arrow A, it will be noted that the fork 38 is thrust into the pile by rearward movement of the arms .35, and the end portions 43 are moved in a direc tion to disengage the same from the pile by the arms. Continued movement of the drums in the direction of the arrow A raises the material above thefork 38 and swings the material to .the position indicated by the dot and dash lines shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. When thearms 36 and 4| are swung to their uppermost positions shown in Figure'3 of the drawings, the material supported by the fork is located directly above the body I2 .of the vehicle, and .is dumped into the *body in a manner to be more fully hereinafter described. Assuming now that the drums .|.5 are :rotated in their reverse direction indicated by the arrow B in Figures 2, .3 and .11 of the drawings, it will be noted that the end portions 43 of the armsare shifted rearwardlyito again seat .on the top of the pile and the fork38 is shifted forwardly by the arms 46 so that the fork will clearthe pile as it is swung to its lowermost position.

The material supported by the fork 38 .is prevented from falling off of .the for-k during upward swingingmovement of thelatter, and this is accomplished bya bafiie 48 extending between the arms 36 at opposite sides of the vehicle forwardly of thefork 38zand secured on a shaft 49 having the opposite ends respectively journalled on the arms 36. The bafile '48 is normally urged to its released position by means of a spring fifl coiled around-the shaft 49 and having one end engaging the baiile'in the manner shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The opposite end of the spring 50 engages the bar 39 adjacent theshaft 49 and reacts against this bar to urge the baffle to its tipped po sition. The .baflie is normally held againstmove- .mentto its released or tripped position by a controllever 5| secured toa rock shaft 52.1ocated at the front Sideiof the vehicle body. The rock shaft 5'2 is jflllllllfilled on a bracket 53., and a link 54 is securedto one end .of the rock shaft in the manner clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The free end of .the link 54 is connected to one end of a cable 55 having the opposite end connected to the forward end of a link 56. The rear end of the link 56 is connected to the shaft 49 and cooperates with the cable 55 and link 54 to hold the baflie 43 in its operative position against the action of the spring 54 until the rock shaft Rocking movement of the shaft 52 swings the link 54 downwardly to release the tension on the cable 55 sufficiently topermit the spring 50 to tip-the baffle '48. This operation is, of course, effected after the material has been raised by the fork 38 to a movement ofthe fork 3 8 beyond its uppermost position shown by the dot and dashlin'es in Figure- 3:0fthe drawinga'the upper ends of the links is to normally hold the hook portions 59 out of engagement with the upper ends of the links 45 until the fork and guide arms 36 and M, respectively, approach their uppermost positions shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 3 of the draw- 'ings. most positions, the hook portions 59 on the latches hook over the adjacent ends of the links 45 and lock the arms 36 and 41 against further movement in an upward direction. When, on the other hand, the arms are swung downwardly, the hooked ends 59 of the latches 51 are released from the links 45 and permit the arms 36 and M to re turn to their initial starting positions shown in Figure 11 of the drawings. In this connection it will be noted that the upper ends of the links 45 are formed with a series of longitudinally spaced openings 60 for selectively engaging the pins 4! to vary the effective lengths of the links, or in other words, to vary the distance between the fork arms 36 and guide arms 4|. Of course, Varying the effective lengths of the links 45 changes the location of the upper ends of these links relative to the latch members 51 and necessitates adjusting the latch members along the guide arms. In order to accomplish this result the guide arms 4| are formed with a series of openings 6| spaced from each other lengthwise of the arms and adapted to selectively receive the pivots for the latch members 51.

' What I claim as my invention is l. A loading device for a vehicle having an axle supporting ground engaging wheels and having a body, said device comprising an element supported on the axle for rotation relative to the ground engaging wheels, materialhandlingmeans projecting from one end of the body, said means embodying a member responsive to rotation of the element in one direction to pierce a pile of material and responsive to continued rotation of the element in said one direction to swing the material over the top of the vehicle body.

2. A loading device for a vehicle having an axle supporting ground engaging wheels and having a body,said device comprising an element supported on the axle for rotation relative to the ground engaging wheels, material handling means projecting from one end of the body and having a pick up member, a connection between the member and element responsive to rotation of the element in one direction to thrust the pickup member into a pile of material and responsive to continued rotation of the element in said one direction to swing the pick-up member to an elevated'position directly over the body.

i 3. A loading device for a vehicle having an axle supporting ground engaging wheels and having a body, said device comprising an element supported on the axle for rotation relative to the ground engaging wheels, material handling means projecting from one end of the body and having a fork, a connection between the fork and element responsive to rotation of the element in one direction to thrust the fork into a pile of material and responsive to continued rotation of the element in said one direction to swing the When the arms are swung to their upper- "thereof.

fork to an-elevated position directly over the body,

a'baflle positioned to retain the material on the fork du ring swinging movement thereof, and means for tripping the baffle when the material is elevated to a position over the vehicle body to dump the material into the body,

4. A loading device for a vehicle having an axle supporting ground engaging wheels and having a body, said device comprising an element supported on the axle for rotation relative to the ground engaging wheels, means for rotating the element in one direction, -material handling means projecting from one end of the body'and having a fork, an elongated member having one end connected to the fork and havingthe opposite end pivoted to the rotatable element in a position whereby initial rotation of the element in said one direction thrusts the fork into an adjacent pile of material andcontinued rotation of the element in the same direction swings the fork to a position over the body of the vehicle, means for rotating the element in the opposite direction to retract the fork and return the latter to its lowermost position, and means for guiding movement of the fork in both directions of movement '5. A loading device for vehicles having a body, comprising an element supported for rotation, means for rotating the element in one direction, material handling means projecting from one end of the body and having a fork, an elongated body of the vehicle, guiding means for the fork including an elongated member located above the .first memberin a position to enable seating one end on the top of the pile and having the opposite end pivoted to the rotatable element, and a link having the opposite ends respectively pivotally connected to said members intermediate the ends thereof.

6. A loading device for vehicles having a body, comprising a rotatable element; material handling means projecting from one end of the body, said meansincluding a fork, an arm having one end secured to the fork and having the opposite end pivoted to the element at a point spaced radially, from the axis of rotation thereof, a guide warm located'above the fork arm and positioned to enable seating the end thereof adjacent the fork on the top of a pile of material to be loaded in thebody, means pivotally connectingthe opposite end of the guide arm to said element at a point spaced radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of the element and spaced circumferentially of the element from the pivotal connection of the fork arm with the element, a link having the opposite ends respectively pivotally connected to the guide and fork arms intermediate the ends thereof, and means for rotating the element in opposite directions.

'7. A loading device for vehicles having a body, comprising a rotatable element, material handling means projecting from one end of the body, said means including a fork, an arm having one end secured to the fork and having the opposite end pivoted to the element, a guide arm located above the fork arm and positioned to enable seating the end thereof adjacent the fork on the top of a pile of material to be loaded in the body,

messa e meansmpivotaliyr- "connecting the -:opposite end of the guide arm-to: the 'element, a :link having the oppositenends respective-1y pivotally connected to tlliegguide and fork arms intermediate the ends thereof, the-pivotal connectidnsbetween the arms and element being-spaced radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of the-element to enable both! arms toswing in responseto rotation of the element and also being: predeterminedly :spaced f-rom each other toeffect lengthwisem'ove- :ment of the arms in: opposite directions upon rotation of the element i-n' one direction; and rmeans-fror-selectively rotating the element inopposite :directions.

=8..A:loadingdevice tor a :vehicle having an axle supportinggr-ound engaging wheels and having as-body; said device comprising a pair of elements spaced from each other transversely of the vehicle and rotatableabout the axle independently at 171 16 ground engaging wheels, material hanidling mean-sproiectingfrom: one end of the-"body, means including a fork positioned beyond the'end aforesaidof the body and extending in .thedirection: of ithe axis of rotation-of the elements, a pair of-arms having 1 corresponding ends respectively connected to opposite ends of the fork: and having ithe other ends respectively pivotally connected to-"therotatable elements at points spaced radially outwardly from the axis ofhrotation of the-elements, and 'a connection loettveenthe arms and ei'ements responsive to dnitialwrotation -of the elements in one direction to thrust the fork into 'a pile 'of material and .responsiveto-continued rotationo'f the elements to-sw-ing the fork to an elevated position over i the body.

9. A loading-device for vehicles havinga body, comprising a pair -of elements spaced from each other transversely of the vehicle 'and' rotatable abouta common axis, material handling means -.proiecti-ng' from-one-end of the-body, said means including a fork positioned beyond the-end aforesaid of the body-and extending inthe direction of thelaxis of rotation of the velements, -a pair of arms :havi-ng corresponding ends respectively connected to opposite ends of the fork and having the othervends respectively pivotally connected to the rotatable elementsat points spaced radially outwardly from :the axis of rotation of the eleirnen-ts, a "connection: between "the arms and rotatable elements for guiding movement of the .tork-inrresponse torotation oftheelements, said guiding 'coimectionembodyi-ng a second pair of zarms =located above the fork arms and having corresponding end portions adapted to seat on :apile' of material to be loaded the" body, means respectively pivotally connecting the opposite -ends=of thei'guide 'arms to'the elements at points spaced"radia;lly'from the-axis of rotation of the elements'and spaced circumferentially from the pivotal connections between the fork arms and elements, and links having the opposite ends respectively :pi-votal-ly connected "to the fork and ,guide arms intermediatethe ends of the latter.

10.- A- loa-ding device for 'vehicleshaving a body, comprising a pair of'elements' spaced'from each other transversely of the vehicle and rotatable about a common axis, material handling means projecting from: one 'end'of the body, said-means including a fork positioned beyond the-end aforesaid of the" bodyand extending in thedirection of the'axis of rotation-of the elements, a pair of arms having corresponding ends respectively connected to opposite ends of the fork andhaving the other ends respectively pivotally connected to-therotatable elements at pointsspaced radially outwardly from the-axis of rotation of the elements, a connectionbetween thearms and. rotatable elements' for guiding movement of the fork in response to rotation of the elements, said guiding connection-embodying a second pair of armslocated abovethefork arms and having corresponding end portions adapted to seat on a pile of material to be loaded in thebody,. means respectively pivotally connecting the opposite ends of the guide arms to the elements "at points spaced radially from the axis'of rotation of the elements and spaced circumferentially from the pivotal connections-between the fork arms and elements, a pairof links having the opposite end's respectively 'pivotally connected to the guide "and fork arms intermediate the ends,.means for To tating the elements in opposite direc'tions,uand means responsive to upward'swing-ing movement of the arms by said elements'tolatch thetlinks to the guide arms and responsive to downward swinging movement of the arms to release: said latch means.

Li. A- loading device for vehicles havingrarbody, comprising an element supported for rotation,

means forrotating theelement in one direction,

material handlingmeanaprojecting from one end of the-body and having a" fork, an elongated memher having one end "COIIIIGCfiEd fiO- the fork and having the opposite end pivoted to the rotatable element in a position whereby initial rotation of the element in said one direction'thrusts the fork into an adjacent pile of material and continued rotation of the element .in the same direction swings the fork to aposition over the body of the vehicle, means for rotating the element in the opposite direction to retract the fork and return the latter to its lowermost position, and guiding means for the fork engageable with the top of the pile of material tobe loaded for locating the fork at the proper'elevation relative'to the pile.

ARTHUR RAYMONDCUNNINGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the "file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 134173,109 Libertini et all Nov. 6, 1923 1,667,381 Hetlesater Apr. 24, 1928 20043022 Twik June 4, 1935 2393;877 Baldwin- Jan. 29, 1946 2,407,930 La Pointe Sept. 17, 1946 2,427,575 Sedore Sept. 16-, 1947 ank/c 

